The Future of Hodeida – Once a Hotbed of Global Espionage – Hangs in the Balance

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned Monday that military action in Yemen will fail.  The warning comes as a Saudi-led coalition targeted Houthi rebels aligned with Iran, according to Reuters.  Still don’t understand the strategic significance of what’s happening in Hodeida? 

Consider that the city has long served as a hotbed for global espionage.  In part one of a special Cipher Brief two-part series on the port city, Cipher Brief Expert Norm Roule, who is also the ODNI’s former National Intelligence Manager for Iran, shares his secrets for understanding how today’s actions are influenced by the past and how that understanding may shape the future.